Portulaca plant named &#34;LAZPRT1708&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  portulaca  plant having purple and yellowish-white bicolored, flame-patterned flowers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/496,346, filed Oct. 14, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Portulaca umbraticola Kunth.

Varietal denomination: ‘LAZPRT1708’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of portulaca plant known by the varietal name ‘LAZPRT1708’. The new variety is the result of a planned breeding program with the purpose of developing a portulaca variety with a novel bicolored flower pattern. ‘LAZPRT1708’ was created via a cross conducted in the Summer of 2009 in Merano, Italy between an unnamed and unpatented Portulaca umbraticola Kunth variety from the breeder's proprietary breeding line 08/4-3 (female parent) and an unnamed and unpatented Portulaca umbraticola Kunth variety (male parent) having white and purple bicolored, star-patterned flowers. The new variety was selected in the Spring of 2010 in Merano, Italy and the first asexual reproduction of the new variety was conducted by cuttings in the Spring of 2011 in Merano, Italy. ‘LAZPRT1708’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

‘LAZPRT1708’ is similar to its female parent in having a bicolored flower pattern, but the pattern of ‘LAZPRT1708’ is flame-like versus star-like and has better contrast (purple and yellowish-white colors versus cream and purple colors). Further, ‘LAZPRT1708’ exhibits better branching than its female parent. When ‘LAZPRT1708’ is compared to Portulaca umbraticola Kunth ‘LAZPRT1604’, also referred to as “DUNA COLORBLAST Watermelon Punch” (unpatented), the varieties are similar in that they both exhibit a purple and yellowish-white colored flower pattern. However, the pattern of ‘LAZPRT1708’ is flame-like versus star-like and the pattern of ‘LAZPRT1708’ is more irregular than that of ‘LAZPRT1604’. Further, ‘LAZPRT1708’ has a more compact growth habit than ‘LAZPRT1604’.

The following traits distinguish ‘LAZPRT1708’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other portulaca varieties known to the breeder:

1. Intense purple and yellowish-white bicolored flame flower pattern;

2. Compact growth habit and good vitality;

3. Freely branching with pinching not necessary; and

4. Excellent heat and drought tolerance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings taken at approximately 4 months of age illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of a flower of the new variety;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a flower of the new variety;

FIG. 3 shows close-up view of flowers of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 shows a view of a plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety. The data which defines these characteristics were collected in Merano, Italy in the Summer. Plants of the new variety were grown in Merano, Italy in a glass greenhouse under full natural light levels of 60-70 klx in 13 cm pots with a moderate watering regimen, an average day temperature of 18° C., and an average night temperature of 12° C. The color readings and measurements were taken indoors in a greenhouse under natural light on approximately 4 month old plants grown in containers. Color references are primarily to the 1995 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:     -   -   Plant type and use.—Annual plant for bed and balcony use.             Number of days to initiate roots (Summer): 10 days at an             average of 22° C. Number of days to produce a rooted young             plant (Summer): 24 days. Number of days to initiate roots             (Winter): 14 days at an average of 15° C. Number of days to             produce a rooted young plant (Winter): 28 days. Time to             finish a flowering plant: Approximately 8-10 weeks. Overall             plant shape and growth habit: Compact and creeping. Plant             height: Approximately 10 cm. Plant diameter: Approximately             50 cm. Growth rate: Rapid. Plant vigor: High. Roots:             Density: Moderate. Branching: Freely. Thickness: Thin.             Texture: Fibrous. Color: Pale creamy white. Branching:             Habit: Freely branching from every node without pinching             required. Basal branching: Present. Lateral branches:             Number: Numerous. Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: 3-4 mm.             Internode length: 2-20 mm. Stem: Appearance: Almost round             with lateral ridges. Aspect/angle: Monopodial. Strength:             4 mm. Outer color: 148A, with strong underlying betalain             coloration present. Core color: 185B when cut open. Bark             color: No bark formed. Pubescence: None present. Texture:             Smooth and glabrous; succulent. Foliage: Appearance:             Alternate and simple. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Younger leaves             are acute; older leaves are acute to slightly rounded. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Length range: 18-25 mm. Width range:             9-12 mm. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,             succulent. Lower surface: Pearly, glabrous, succulent.             Pubescence: None present. Color: Young leaves: Upper             surface: 137A. Lower surface: 147B. Mature leaves: Upper             surface: Generally 147A; with full sun exposure, a very             slight shade of 185B betalain coloration may be seen on the             margins. Lower surface: Generally 147B; with full sun             exposure, a very slight shade of 185B betalain coloration             may be seen on the margins. Veins: Venation type: Pinnate,             almost only midrib is visible. Color: Upper surface: 147B.             Lower surface: 146B. Petiole: Length: 1-2 mm. Diameter:             1-2 mm. Texture: Glabrous and succulent on both surfaces.             Color: Upper surface: 146B. Lower surface: 146C. Stipule.             None present. Leaf axil: Fine, yellowish-white hairs are             present in the axillary area that are 1-2 mm in length. -   Flowers:     -   -   Buds.—Number of buds per plant: Numerous. Number of buds per             lateral stem: Usually 3-5 are visible at differing             developmental stages. Shape of individual bud: Ovoid. Length             of individual bud: Approximately 13 mm one day before             flowering. Width of individual bud: Approximately 7 mm one             day before flowering. Bud color: 146A to 146B, with medium             betalain coloration. Natural flowering season at specified             location: From mid-Spring to mid-Autumn in Merano, Italy.             Time to flowering: 6-8 weeks after potting. Inflorescence             number per lateral stem: One terminal inflorescence per             lateral stem; usually from 1 or 2, sometimes 3, open at one             time per mature lateral stem. Number of flowers per             inflorescence: Recurrently flowering with about 15-30             flowers per inflorescence in a single season. Inflorescence:             Description: Clustered cyme with sessile flowers. Height:             Average of 2-3 cm. Width: Average of 5 cm. Flower:             Arrangement: Terminal, surrounded by a whorl of usually 3             leaves. Description: Single, rotate flowers that face             upward; not persistent; self-cleaning. Lastingness of an             individual flower on the plant: Ephemeral flowers that last             from about 1-3 days on the plant. Lastingness of a cut             flower: Not applicable. Shape: Pentagonal, rotate, single.             Diameter: About 40-50 mm. Depth (height): About 15-20 mm.             Aspect: Upright. Fragrance: None present. Petals:             Appearance: Distinct and unfused. Arrangement: Whorl. Number             per flower: 5. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Cordate. Base: Square.             Margin: Generally entire; slightly serrate toward the apex.             Length: About 22 mm. Width: About 20 mm. Texture (both             surfaces): Smooth, glabrous. Color: Upper surface (when             opening): 61A, shifting to 72A (purple area), 12A to 13B             (intermediate yellow area), and 155A to 11D (white area).             Lower surface (when opening): 61B to 72A (purple area) and             155A to 11D (white area). Upper surface (fully opened): 61A,             shifting to 72A (purple area), 12A to 13B (intermediate             yellow area), and 155A to 11D (white area). Lower surface             (fully opened): 61B to 72A (purple area) and 155A to 11D             (white area). Both surfaces (shriveled after opening): 59A             to 71A. Petaloid description: None present. Sepals: Number             per flower: Two. Appearance: Opposite. Arrangement: Free.             Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Length: About 11 mm. Width: About 9 mm. Texture: Upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Lower surface: Smooth, glabrous,             leathery. Mature color: Upper surface: 147C. Lower surface:             146A to 146B, with strong betalain present. Calyx:             Appearance: Beaker-shaped with 2 lateral ridges. Length:             About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Peduncle description: None             present (sessile flowers). Pedicel description: None             present.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Number (per flower): About             50-60. Filament: Length: About 5-6 mm. Color: Purple-red.             Anthers: Shape: Ellipsoid. Length: 1 mm. Color: 25B. Pollen:             Color: 24A. Amount (generally): Average. Pistils: Number:             One, parted into 5-6 tentacle-shaped stigmas. Length: About             10 mm. Style: Length: About 10 mm. Color: Purple-red.             Stigma: Shape: Elongated and tentacle-shaped. Color:             Purple-red. Ovaries: Not visible. -   Seeds/fruit:     -   -   Seeds.—Number per flower: Up to approximately 40. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Color: Greyish black. Fruit: Quantity per             lateral branch: Each flower produces one seed pod. Amount of             fruit per plant: Numerous. Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Color: Light green to green. Texture: Succulent             to leathery. Taste: Not applicable. Number of days to             ripening: 7-10. -   General:     -   -   Disease/pest resistance or susceptibility.—None observed.             Cold temperature tolerance: Tolerant to long term exposure             of approximately 10° C.; tolerant to short term exposure of             approximately 5° C. (under a dry water regimen). Hot             temperature tolerance: Excellent, with no observed upper             limit to date. Drought tolerance: Excellent. Rain tolerance:             Good, may suffer from prolonged water exposure in soil with             poor drainage. Wind tolerance: Good, quickly recovers from             wind damage as new flowers open on a daily basis. Keeping             quality: The entire plant performs very well throughout an             entire Summer with the continuous rotation of blooming             ephemeral flowers. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of portulaca plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 